Leaf-folding mechanism for tables.



A. & L. RENZETTI.

LEAF FOLDING MECHANISM FOR TABLES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 20, 1914- 1,151,394. Patented Aug. 24,1915.

5 SHEETS-SHEET I.

WITNESSES A TTORIVEYS COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH COqWASHINOTON, D. C.

A. & L. RENZETTI.

LEAF FOLDING MECHANISM FOR TABLES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 20, I914. 1,151,394; Patented Aug. 24,1915.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

76 ,1 (a 7212M m7 I I I I I H IL L-I I Qlii 1% W5; Fla 50 2 2.9 his 2 7 2g \5 O a 0 a a a o 25 (P 42 II 70 25 212-23 44 22 I4 4 Ill/VE/VTORS A Nomi/Er COLUMBIA PLANDGRAPH 60-. WASHIHW. D. C.

A. 1 1. RE NZETT I. LEAF FOLDING MECHANISM FOR TABLES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 20,1914.

Patented Aug. 24; 1915.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

ym v A TTRA/EYS WITNESSES COLUMBIA PLANOORAPH 60.,WASHIABTON. D. c.

R584 L. RENZETTI.

LEAF FOLDING MECHANISM FOR TABLES.

APPLLCATION FILED MAY 20. 1914.

1,151,394. Patented Aug. 24, 1915.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

ATTORNEYS AMINDO BENZETTI AND LUIGI RENZETTI, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

LEAF-FOLDING MECHANISM ron TABLES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 20, 1914. Serial No. 839,764.

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that we, AMrNno Ptnivznriu and LUIGI RENZETTI, both subjects of the King of Italy, and residents of the city of New York, borough of Manhattan, county and State of New York, haveinvented a new and Improved Leaf-Folding Mechanism for Tables, of-which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to improvements in tables, and particularly to means for folding the extra leaves provided therefor.

The object-in view is to provide an improved mechanism for unfolding and again folding the extra leaves of the table when the permanent parts of the table are moved back and forth in an opening and closing movement. f

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved mechanism for quickly raising and opening extra leaves of a table when the table is pulled apart.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of an improved folding mechanism for a plurality of leaves which will cause the leaves to unfold from beneath the table when the tableis separated the first time, and which will cause the leaves to fold to a position beneath the top of the table when the table is opened a second time, this mechanism also providing for an automatic centering whether one or more are used. I

In carrying out the objects of the invention I a top of any desired kind is provided which is associated with suitable slides of any desired form, as for instance the usual variety of slides for tables. Associated with'the center slide is a pedestal of substantially the usual structure, which pedestalis not separable, while the top is separable. Arranged on this pedestal and beneath the top is a frame for receiving one or more extraleaves asmay be desired, together with operating mechanism, whereby the leaves may be raised and opened and again closed and lowered. This mechanism is partially carried by the leaves but part is connected with the top of the table so that the two parts of the top of the table when moved will cause a proper operation of the mechanism which in turn willmove the leaves as desired, either from a foldedto an unfolded position or from an unfolded to a folded position.

In the accompanying drawings-Figure 1 is a bottom plan view of a table with an embodiment of the invention applied thereto,

plan View of-the structure shownin Fig. 1,

one half of the top being pulled to one side; Fig. 3 1s a bottom plan viewof the strucs: ora ion. I

Patented Aug. ea, 1915.

ture shown in Fig. l with one half of the table pulled to one side for its full distance, the leaf being folded; Fig. 4: is a fragmenta ry top plan view of the table shown in Fig. 1, the same disclosing only that part of the table shown in Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a sectional view through Fig. 7 approximately" online 5-5, the same being shown on an enlarged scale; Fig. 6 is a section through Flgt on line 6-6, the same being shown on an'enlarged scale; Fig. 7 is a view similar toFig. 4; except that the leaves are in a folded position; Fig. 8 is a bottom plan view of approximately half of the table in a closed position with all of the leaves in a folded position; Fig. 9 is an enlarged detailed fragmentary perspective View of one of the leaves and the operating mechanism therefor; Fig. 10 is an enlarged fragmen tary sectional view through Fig. 9 approximately on line 1010; Fig. 11 is a bottom planview of a pair of cams embodying certain features of the invention.

Referring to the accompanying drawings by numeral, 1 indicates a pedestal of any desired kind provided with a top 2 divided into partsor sections 3 and 4. These'sec tions may be of any desired kind, and when in contact present a circular top. Section 8 is rigidly connected to slide 5, while section 4: is rigidly connected to slide 6, slides 5 and 6 being in turn slidingly connected with fixed slides 7 and 8. Slides 7 and 8 are rigidly secured to cross bars 9 and 10, which cross bars are rigidly secured to the pedestal l. Rigidly secured by any desired means to the cross bars 9 and 10 are filling blocks 11 and 12, and also a frame 13. Frame 13 is constructed according to Patent No. 1,096,732, designed to accommodate leaves ltand 15 when the arm's are in a folded position. The frame 13'is'cut away somewhat for accommodatlng the hinges 16and l7, and associated parts as more clearly shown in Figs. 5 and 6. I

Arrangedupon each leaf are a plurality of means which open or unfold the leaves, and also which close or fold the leaves. These means do not act on the leaves during their entire opening and closing movement; but act sufficiently long to allow the momentum to finish the opening and closing operation. n the stationary part of the table are arranged co; acting means, whlchcause a proper actuation of the mech' and side members 1 9: and 20, the side members 19 and. 20.- being connected with the body118, by the hinges 1:6 and 17.", which hinges may be of any desired construction. Theqhinges 116 and 17 are of special construction, and each comprises a plate-'21 to. which isyrigidly secured an: arm, 22. Also, an arm23 is pivotally connected to. plate 21 by a suitable pivotal pin 24,,arm 23 being provided with a or shoulder25for. 1 1m..

iting the swinging movement; of the arm. in one direction, whereby when the arm; is. raised the same will move plate: 21 together: with the respective side members 19 and 20;.=

The respective arms23 are adapted tofibe.

engaged by the crank members 26. and 2:7 pivotally mounted in, suitable supports connected with the body 18. The crank members 26' and 27 have pivotally connected therewith links 28 and 29 which links in. turn are pivotally connected to. sliding plates 30 and 31 through suitable upstandingmem bers32 and 33 and pintles arranged therein. The plates 30; and; 311 are provided :with; lower'portions; 34 and 35, respectively, ar ranged to slide between the guides 36and 37, which guides are rigidly secured; to, the portion, 18 of the leaf 14. The-ends of guide,

36 are bent so as to extendnormal to -said; guide, and thuspresent, stops 38 and 39'for limiting the movement of the plates 30; and 31. It is to be noted that plates 30 and 31 are provided with projections 40 and 41 which accommodate springs 42 and 43.

Springs 42 and 43 are connectedtothearms 22 of the respective hinge members 16 and 17 through suitable connecting means, as for instance chains 44 and 45. Retractile springs 46 and47 areconnectedat oneend, to the body 18 and at the other to the portions 34- and 35 whereby slides 30 and 3 1 are given a continual tendency to move to; ward the stops; 38x'and 39.. The lower portions 34 and 35 may be connected with the plates 30 and 31 in any desired manner, as for instance by rivets, and are provided with upstanding members, or stops 48 and 49which are designedjto snap intonotches 50. and 51 formed in. thesliding catch 52. The sliding catch 52 is provided with an offset portion whereby the'end in which thenotches 50 and 51 are arranged is above plates 30 and 31, and in addition an abutment is provided for the spring 54 (Fig. 10). which spring has one end pressing against Wall 55 in the notch 56 of the body 18. The end of" the sliding plate 52 opposite the end having notches 50 and 51 is offset for providing a raised stop 58. The body of the catch 52, is held properly in position by. a plate 58 secured to the leaf 14 by any desired means, said body sliding in a groove 59 formed in the leaf l5,'as clearly shown inFig. 110., It is to. be noted that the springs 42' and 43 are slackwhenv the leaf 14 is unfolded, but arerbrought under tension when the leaves are folded. This tension is not; very great, and is intended to-cushion to a certaintextent the closing action caused by springs 46 and 47 forcing arms'23. against plate 21..

In operation when it is desired to insert an extra leaf in the table while the parts are in, the position shown in Fig.v 8 all that is, necessary is to pull. against section 3. W hen the pulling action has caused section, 3, to, move tothe position shown; in Fig. 4 springs 42, and43 will be brought under a considerable tension which will cause end members 19 and20 to quickly move to the position shown, in; Fig. 3. As the section, 3

begins to move from the position shownin' Fig. 8 to that shown in Figs. 4 and 7 the pins 60 will be disconnected from section 3 and also the swinging bars 61 and-62 will be moved somewhat toward each; other. This movement is continued until. the bars 31 and 62 have pressed the upstanding mem} adapted to engage a switch structure 63 (Fig. 11). for causing back and forth movement of the bar. The switch structure 63is formed; with converging guides Gtand 65 and reversely positioned converging guides 66, and 67; which at their widest portion. fit against the narrowest portion of the ways 64. and 65. Spring pressed switches 68 and 69 are arranged on ways 66 and 67 so that the bars 61 and 62 cannot, spread when the section 3. is moved back until the bars have escaped fromthe ways 66 and 67 the entire switch structure 63 being connected with section 3. It is of course understood that a similar structure is connected with section 4 so. that both sides of the table operate similarly. Connected with the bars 61 and 62 are springs 70 and 71 which tend continually to separate the bars when released from switch 63. In order to prevent too great a separation a retaining keeper 72 is provided which is rigidly secured to the frame or casing 13. After the parts have been moved to the position shown in Fig. 4 section 3 is moved back (or closed) until the same iscontacting with the leaf 14, and is also moveduntil leaf. 14 presses against the section .4 which is moved preferably for the distance of half the width of the leafwhen only one leaf is being used, whereby the inserted leaf will be arranged centrally of the table.

When it is desired to retire the leaf the section 3 is pulled outwardly to its fullest extent so that pins 60 may be disengaged from sections 3 and 4, whereupon springs 42 and 43 will quickly fold ends 19 and 20.

The sections 3 and 4 are then forced toward each other until. they meet in the center,

whereupon the top is closed. If. it is ,de-,

sired to again use leaf 14, section 3 is moved fromthe position shown in Fig. 8 to the position shown in Fig. 2. It will be noted that the catch 52 is in engagement with the projection 73 when the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 8. When the section 3 is moved to the position shownin Fig. 2 projection 73 is disengaged from catch 52 and also the pivotally mounted bars 61 and 62 are brought together which will cause the stops 48 and 49 to engage the notches50 and 51 which will bring the various springsunder tension. As springs 42. and43 hold the leaf open and springs 46 -andf'47are held against movement the tension of these springs is desirable at this time. After the parts have been moved as just described section 3 is forced back until pins engage suitable apertures in section 3 as shown in Fig. 1. When the section 3 is again pulled to an open position as shown in Fig. 7, the pins 74- on the ends of the leaf are moved by the slides 5tso that the leaf will be disengaged from both sections and also so that catch 52 may engage projection 7 3 in order to release the stops 4S and 49, and consequently springs 46 and 47 and associated parts which causes a folding action of the leaf. The section 3 is then closed as heretofore described.

It is to be noted that section 3 is moved out of contact with the leaf 14, and then leaf 14 is moved outof contact with section 5.

This is caused by pin 74 operating in slot 7 5,

slot being in the slide 5, while pin 74 is arranged in the leaf 14. As soon as the alining pins 60 of the leaf 14 are disengaged both from the section 3 and from section 4 or the next adjacent inserted leaf, the

claimedin applicants former patent heretofore mentioned. By this construction and arrangement either of the leaves may be an tomaticallyunfolded and again folded by movement of either section of the top,.and if desired by a movement of both sections of the top both leaves may be folded and unfolded. l

It is to be noted that each leaf and the variousmechanisms shown in Fig. 9 are not in any way secured to the table or to the box or frame 13, and the only connection be tween the leaf. and the mechanism carried thereby to the table are the pins. 60 and the bars 61 and 62. leaves to be bodily removed manually. whenever desired without affecting any of the parts, and without the use of any tools. The projection 73 as shown in Fig. 6 is part of a swinging stop plate 76 which is divided at 77, and is provided with a clamping screw 7 8 operating a suitable slot whereby the projection7 3 may be adjusted to correspond to a the height ofrthe catch 52.

What We. claim is- 1. Ina device of the character described, the combination with a table having the top divided intosections and a foldable leaf normally positioned below said top, of means for raising said leaf and unfolding the same when said sections are separated, said means comprising a palr ofplvotally) mounted members, springs connected with said members, a sliding member connected with each of sald springs for brmging the same under tension, means connected with the parts of said top for causing said slides to be moved against the action of said springs whereby the springs are brought under tension, and a switch mechanism on springs connected with the outer ends of said leaf for raising the leaf and opening the same, aslidrng member connected with each of said sprlngs for bringing the same under tension, means connected with the parts of said top for causing said slides to be moved agamstthe action of said springs whereby the springs are brought under ten-v sion, a switch mechanism on one of saidsec- This allows either of the tions for actuating said last mentioned means,, a pivotally mounted member acting on the outer; ends of said leaves for folding the same, a rod connected with said pivotally mounted member and with said slides for transmitting motion from said slides to said pivotally' mounted members, aspring e con; nected with said slides, said spring-being brought under tension by the movement. of said slides toward each other, "a catch for engaging said slides when moved toward each other and holding the same against movement, and means for engaging; said catch for releasing the same, whereby the slides will move under the actionofsaid last mentioned springs, and will operate the parts'connected therewith for folding; said leaf. 7 v

3. In a device of the character described, thecombination with a table having a top divided into two parts, said parts being movable, and a plurality of folding leaves normally arranged beneath said top but adapted'to be moved in the same plane as saidtop, for forming a continuous surface, of means for actuating said leaves for causing the same to be folded and" unfolded, said means comprisinga pivotally mounted arm connected with the folding'parts ofeach of said leaves, an arm rigidly connected with the folding parts of each of said leaves, a spring for'each of said l'ast mentioned arms, a pivotally mounted'member for each of said pivotally mounted" arms for actuatingthe same, a link connected" with each of said pivotallymounted means, a sliding plate connected with said link and with said spring, a second spring for each of said plates for holding the-same in a predeter mined position and returning the same to that position when moved therefrom, means for bringing said springs und'er'tension, said means moving said plates, a catch for holding, said" plates against :movement after the springs have been brought under tension, and "a projection adapted-to release said catch when the movable-parts'ofsaid topareforced away from each other, whereby said' last mentioned spring will move said pivotal membersand fold'said l'eaves.

L. In a device of the character described,

' the combination with a table having a divided top, the sections of which are movable, and a-fold'able extra leaf normally arranged beneath said top, said fol'dable extra leaf being formed with a central body and hinged end members, of means 'for folding and unfolding sail leaf and causing the leaf to be moved to the same plane as said top, and to a plane beneath said top, saidmeans comprising a pair of springs connected with said hinged-end members for unfolding said end members, api-votally mountedarm connected wlth each of said endmembers for foldingthe same, apivo'tallymounted member for actuating said arms, a spring for each of said pivotally mounted members, a link connectingone end of said spring with 831d pivotal lymounted members, means for holding said last mentioned springs un dcr tension when 7 said "end? members are in an unfolded position, a

move said" hinge members to an open. posi-' tion. z

' 5'. In a device of thecharacter described,

the combination with atable provided with a top divided into sections which may be separated for insertion of an extra leaf, and

a foldable extra leaf normally arranged beneath said top, of means forsubstantially simultaneously unfolding said leaf and raisingthe same tothe top and simultaneously folding and lowering said leaf, said means comprising, a pair of springs for folding said leaf, a pair of springs for opening said leaf, means arranged in said top forreleasing one pair'of springs whereby the leaf will be folded by-one pair ofsaid springs, and means actuated by said top for bringing the other pair of springs under tension whereby the same is adapted to unfold said leaf when said sections are moved apart.

6. In a device of the character described, a table provided with a top divided into sections, said sections being slidable, and, a foldable extra leaf arranged normally beneath said top, said foldable extra leaf be ing formed with a central body'and foldable ends, of means for unfolding said ends and raising the entire leaf to the same plane as said top, and also folding said leaf so that the samemay move down by gravity beneath said top, said means comprising a spring for each of said ends for folding said leaf, a spring for each of said ends forun folding said leaf, a sliding plate connected to each pair of springs, a catch engaging the path ofmovement of said catch for releasing the same when said top is separated, whereby said leaf will bemoved to a folded positiomand means actuated by said top for bringingsaid springs under tension. when the top is closed and the leaf hasbeen folded.

7. In a device of the character described. the combination with a table having a top formed in separable sections, and a folding leaf having a central body and a pair of end hinged members, of means for foldingand unfolding said leaf, said means comprising an extension secured to each of said hinged members, a retractile spring connected with each of said extensions, 'a sliding plate connected with each of said springs, a catch for locking said sliding plate against movement after the springs have been brought under tension, a pivotally mounted arm connected to each of said hinged ends,

each of said arms being provided with a stop for engaging the ends for moving a predetermined distance, a swinging member for engaging said arms and moving the same so as to close said hinged ends, a link connected at one end to the respective swinging members, the opposite end of each of said links being connected with said sliding plates, a.

disengaged from the top, whereby said last mentioned springs will fold said leaf, and means for bringing both of said springs under tension and said plates into engagement with said catch when said top is brought to a closed position, whereby when said top is again opened said first mentioned spring will act on said hinged ends for opening the same.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

AMINDO RENZETTI. LUIGI RENZETTI.

l Vitnesses:

vrr'romo RENZETTI, A. L. KITGHIN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, I). C." 

